The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-15
POOR FLORENCE POWERS,
BEFORE DEATH CAME TO HER
RELIEF,
COnflded to the Doctor the Story OF
her Fall, OF her shame and
her Suicide.

A few moments before ehe died,
Florence Powers, the woman who
took that which God had given her
life-cAlled one of the attending ply
sicians TO her side, and said: '0n,
dear, good Doctor, don't don't for the
love of heaven, attempt to save me. l
want to die, aud will; l can't live
after what have suffered today, and
with the hope Of my awful career de-
tsrring some sister from q like life,
listen, Doctor, aud help me ask for for
giveness. Four years ago-oh, my
God, how long they have been-I was
an innocent, pure and happy girl,
blessed with mother, (whoss dear old
sweet face see there now before me,
saying well done, my daughter, we'll
done, y who was so kind, 80 gentle aud
30 loving, who worked until her fiu-
gers We're sore for her child. Through
an acquaintance / obtained one OF
"0uida's" novels, and becoming i'm
busd with the absurd romances it con-
tanned became restless and depress-
ed. A short time after reading the
book there was dance to be given at
a ueighbors. A young man of disrep-
utabe character wanted me TO 60 with
him, and mother IN her wisdom-God
bless her. sweet, dear Old soul-forbade
my going with him. | was ignolaot
and thought her decision unjust; 30,
after she had gone to bsd-there,
there; oh, my God, why should
be punished SOL slip.
ped from the house and sped
to the dance aud my ruin. When /
reached the house the scene was one
Of gayety aud happiness, The music
was intoxicating, and soon ! was ia
the midst of them dancing, though
with heavy, heavy heart, for real
lied then that / had done wrong.
After the dance l started home with
the young man whom mother had for
babe my going with. He was drink
ing and very gay, and when told him
that felt very bad about having gone
he laughed and said: Here, take a
good drink out of this aud you will
feel better" The devil must have
possessed me. took the bottle from
his hands and knew nothing more I'M
Ill stood on the threshold of my
mothers house gtzing into her eyes,
which had grown c)ld and stern,
while, with finger pointing down the
road, she said, "Go." Irushed away I;
went TO small town, entered house
Of i'll fame to cover up my disgrace,
and ever since remorHeless conscience
has been gnswing, gnawing, gnawing.
Today was going down Main street,
dressed in the cursed fruits Of pol
luted soul. Opposite the Court square
/ saw before me familiar form my
heart went 10 my throat and invoun-
tarily my steps were quickened, ard,
as came nearer, / noticed that she
held by the hand my sweet little
angel Bitter, whose God given, in
nocent eyes were eagerly watch
ing the Fights. l went nearer
and came facs to flee with
mother. 1 held out my hands,
oh, my God, to embrace her; and so
help me heaven, If she had taken me
to her bosom would have and could
have reformed. For moment those
dear old eyes shone with all the bril-
liancy and power OF love, and for a
moment l thought ] had been for
given; Tut, alas, 1t soon faded away,
and that cold, tcorchiDg look that /
had never seen before that memorable
morning returned, and she turned
away without saying a word. stag.
eered against the side of a building,
and would have died there If it had
been in my power. The men around
jeersd me for being drunk, and l came
home, and here l am going to, going
TO -"
And 60 she passed away, let us
hope, 10 the peace and happiness de-
MED her here.